Luigi Galvani

9 September 1737 – 4 December 1798

Luigi Galvani was an Italian physician, physicist, and biologist who discovered that the muscles of dead frogs twitched when struck by an electrical spark, founding the study of bioelectricity. His theory of 'animal electricity' prompted Alessandro Volta's invention of the electric battery.

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Life events

Born in Bologna, Papal States
9 September 1737

Galvani was born in Bologna to a goldsmith's family and initially considered joining the church before turning to medicine.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Graduated in medicine and philosophy from the University of Bologna
1759

Galvani earned degrees in medicine and philosophy at Bologna, defending a thesis on the structure of bones.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Lucia Galeazzi
1762

Galvani married Lucia Galeazzi, daughter of his professor Domenico Galeazzi, and joined her father's research household.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed lecturer in anatomy at the University of Bologna
1762

Galvani became a lecturer in anatomy at Bologna and later professor of obstetrics at the Institute of Sciences.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Observed the twitching of frog legs under electrical stimulation
c. 1780

Galvani noticed that a dissected frog's leg muscles contracted when touched by a charged scalpel, beginning his experiments on animal electricity.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published De viribus electricitatis in motu musculari
1791

Galvani published his commentary on the effect of electricity on muscular motion, proposing that animal tissue contained an innate 'animal electricity'.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Scientific dispute with Alessandro Volta
1792 – 1798

Volta challenged Galvani's animal-electricity theory, arguing the current arose from dissimilar metals; the debate led Volta to invent the voltaic pile.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Refused the oath to the Cisalpine Republic and lost his posts
1797

When Napoleon's Cisalpine Republic required an oath of loyalty, Galvani refused on religious grounds and was stripped of his academic positions.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Bologna
4 December 1798

Galvani died in his brother's house in Bologna, in poverty, at the age of 61.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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